Pennsylvania Game Commision proposes ban on Nanday Conures

 
 

Watching the News:
  

Like many bird lovers around the world, I've been keeping a close eye on what is happening in Pennsylvania regarding proposal being reviewed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission  to make owning nanday conures illegal (quaker parakeets are already illegal and have been for quite a long time). 
 
The grass-roots organization formed by local birdlovers to protest the law have succeeded in stopping it!  

For a while I had links posted on my home page for articles, TV news videos and other related web pages.  Now that the issue is resolved (at least in Pennsyvlania) I've moved those items here and will be keeping them there for a while. 

Kudos to the TCOPA members in Pennsylvania who went to the game commission 
in January 2008 and educated them and the general public about the facts involved.   
Well done!

 

  Jan 30 article on the LancasterOnline website (Lancaster Pennsylvania)
 This article reports the Pennsyvlania Game Commissions decision NOT to pursue banning Nanday Conures.

The Agenda for the January 29th 2008 meeting of the commission 
(Pennsylvania Game Commission's website)
(PDF format, it's large and will take a bit to download - then go to page 42)
And... posted after that meeting, a statement that they plan to remove
the ban on Nanday Conures from the proposed law changes
(It's the second-to-last paragraph on the page, so scroll to the bottom) 

TCOPA message board.and a specific member's report about the Jan 27th meeting
TCOPA (The Coalition of Pennsylvania Aviculturists) is a Yahoo group formed to build a 
coordinated protest.  The members who attended the Jan. 27th game commission meeting started
posting messages to inform the group of the results.  You'll see the first report at message 191.   

Article on "Lock Haven Express, PA"  website.
It includes some of the statemetns from the TCOPA's expert witness, Dr. Paul Miller - esp. noting the fact
that Nanday conures could not survive a PA winter, and therefore could not possibly pose a threat to 
the environment there.

Article on "WHP-CBS" 
The article says that the game commission thinks that the whole situation has been blown out of proportion.
They say that they're seeking to stop future importation of the conures, not go after existing pets.  Oh?  They why does the
proposed law read that you can't own, breed, sell...?

Article on "Patriot News" website
The article claims that Nanday Conures are already illegal to own or sell in Pennsylvania 
(OH?!?!?!  And where did THAT bit of misinformation come from...? For the answer, check the WFMZ report link below)

Video news report from a TV station WFMZ-TV 69News
A report on the meeting held with the game commission on Jan. 27th.  It mentions
the protesters but does not interview them.  

Video news report from a TV station WFMZ-TV 69News
This report includes interviews with representative of the game commission who states 
that it's already illegal to have Nanday Conures in Pennsylvania!  She was wrong.  Quaker ("monk") parrots have been
banned since 1992, but not Nandays...    Also an interview
with a newly-formed group of bird enthusiasts who are planning to protest the proposed law change.

Article on the Pittsburg Tribune-Review website

The website of The American Federation of Aviculture, Inc. and their article about the issue.